If you wish to have ornament, you must pay specifically for it, and the workman is compelled to produce ornament, as he is to produce other wares. He is compelled to pretend happiness in his work, so that the beauty produced by man’s hand, which was once a solace to his labour, has now become an extra burden to him, and ornament is now but one of the follies of useless toil, and perhaps not the least irksome of its fetters.
— William Morris, “Useful Work v. Useless Toil” (1888)
When “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” was released in 2011, I caught flack from people saying I didn’t know squat about anarchism. (It’s interesting to note that none of the assailants were anarchists.)
I know that the word “anarchist” stirs a lot of emotions, and I hesitated for years to use it. But it’s the correct word to describe who I am. Plus I’m old enough that I just don’t give a rat’s $#& what people say about me.
With the release of “The Anarchist’s Design Book,” I know this topic is going to come up again. So before you worry that reading my book is going to make you build bombs, you can do a little bit of reading and find out what North American Anarchism is really about.
In short: Anarchism is a tendency to avoid large organizations – governments, corporations and churches. It is not about violence. It is not about revolution. It is not a form of society that can ever be the majority. But it is, like I said, a tendency to favor the small over the huge. It favors individual over collective action. Self-reliance over consumerism.
Or, as I like to say: “To build rather than buy.”
It’s definitely not God-less. American anarchism has its roots in the foundation of Rhode Island over the principles of religious freedom. Read the entry on Anne Hutchinson at Wikipedia for a look at the pillars of anarchism on this continent.
It’s not anti-capitalist. The founder of American anarchism was Josiah Warren, an early 18th-century businessman and social experimenter. He dabbled in communism and socialism at New Harmony, Ind., before moving back to Cincinnati to found the Cincinnati Time Store. Personal property and the ability to own the fruits of your labor are at the core of aesthetic American anarchism. Read more about Warren here.
And if you really want to dig in, pick up a copy of “Native American Anarchism” (Loompanics Unlimited, 1983) by Eunice Minette Schuster – preferably at a used or independent bookstore.
Once you get through that reading list, then we’ll be ready to joust.
After testing (and retesting), our pdf delivery software appears to be working.
To cut down on any confusion, you will now get your download link in the first order confirmation e-mail. The link for your download is at the bottom of the email (see the image above for what this looks like).
We’re moving all our digital products to this service as I type.
So if you have not received a link for the digital download, please check your original confirmation e-mail and see if it’s there. If not, send an email to help@lostartpress.com. Please give us the name or email you used to place the order so we can find it.
Due to a software failure some customers who ordered “The Anarchist’s Design Book” have not yet received their pdf of the book.
First off: Apologies. Our store software says it has sent it out to everyone. Our store software is a dirty liar.
If you have placed an order for the book but have not received the pdf, here’s the quick fix: Send an email to help@lostartpress.com. Please give us the name or email you used to place the order so we can find it.
NOTE: If you don’t see your comment below that’s because we have sent you the pdf and removed the comment so spambots won’t get your email. Check your email! Please don’t post your comment over and over and over….. Thanks!
We sold more than 1,000 copies of “The Anarchist’s Design Book” in about 20 hours yesterday. We don’t know who will get the last of the personally autographed copies – it sold about 4 a.m. Plus we have no way of knowing exactly where the cut-off point is, so I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait for your answer in the mail.
The good news is that all remaining copies sold through the Lost Art Press store will come with a hand-signed letterpress bookplate.
The other good news: We’re holding a book-release party for the book at 7 p.m. on March 12 at our new headquarters: 837 Willard St., Covington, KY 41011. The party will be after the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event closes at Braxton Brewing, a 10 minute walk away.
There will be some beer and maybe pizza. If you are extra thirsty, you might consider bringing some local something to share. We hope to have all our books and some special T-shirts, too. Oh, we’ll also have the original plates for the book on display. If you’ve never seen real copperplate etchings, I think you’ll be impressed.
Because of Covington fire codes, space is limited. We don’t want our first event to be our last.
As a result, we ask you to RSVP using this non-offensive and easy form. Please be certain you are coming before you RSVP. If you sign up but don’t show up, we’ll post your picture next to the cash register with the bad checks we’ve received.